2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J44.81Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J40-J4A›J44

ICD-10-CM J44.81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J44.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 190 through 192. Coders also document this condition as chronic bronchiolitis. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J44.81
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome
Short Description
Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans synd
Parent Code
J44.8
Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ40-J4AChronic lower respiratory diseases
CategoryJ44Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
This CodeJ44.81Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Chronic bronchiolitis
  • Chronic obliterative bronchiolitis
  • Obliterative bronchiolitis

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Obliterative bronchiolitis

Code First

  • , if applicable:
  • complication of bone marrow transplant T86.09
  • complication of stem cell transplant T86.5
  • heart-lung transplant rejection T86.31
  • lung transplant rejection T86.810
  • other complications of heart-lung transplant T86.39
  • other complications of lung transplant T86.818

Code Also

  • , if applicable, associated conditions, such as:
  • chronic graft-versus-host disease D89.811
  • chronic lung allograft dysfunction J4A
  • chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors J68.4

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute)
      • chronic (fibrosing)
        • obliterative
    • Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute)
      • fibrosa obliterans
    • Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute)
      • obliterans
    • Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute)
      • obliterans
        • syndrome
    • Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute)
      • obliterative (chronic) (subacute)
    • Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute)
      • obliterative (chronic) (subacute)
        • due to chemicals, gases, fumes or vapors (inhalation)
    • Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute)
      • obliterative (chronic) (subacute)
        • due to fumes or vapors
    • Syndrome
      • bronchiolitis obliterans
    • Syndrome
      • obliterans
        • bronchiolitis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR RSP008
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

COPD

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a group of lung diseases that make it hard to breathe and get worse over time.

The full article covers:

  • What is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
  • What are the types of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
  • What causes COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
  • Who is at risk for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
  • What are the symptoms of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
  • How is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
  • Can COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement J44.81 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • J42 - Unspecified chronic bronchitis
FY 2024AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2023.
FY 2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About J44.81Overview

Is J44.81 (Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does J44.81 group to?

When bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 190, 191, 192, with relative weights from 0.6420 to 1.1077 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.